Friday, June 13, 2008

Yes we had another birthday around here and I can report that there were no broken arms. Whew! Lillian enjoyed every minute of her day and said with pride at breakfast, "This is fun--I've never been six before!"

Lillian insisted on a Barbie cake (you know, the kind where you stick a doll into a volcano of batter, bake her and see how she holds up? Kidding.) but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Not ANOTHER Barbie cake! I've done pirate ships, killer whales, Death Stars, horse heads, picture books, sheep, butterflies, rainbows, spiders, dinosaurs and salmon but NO MORE BARBIES!

So I "suggested" a mermaid cake. Of course in her mind she had visions of Ariel but I wasn't about to tell her that Disney wasn't getting any piece of this action and by the time I went to frost and decorate she was so excited that she didn't even remember Barbie or Ariel or anything else.

I was, however, a little disturbed at the results. Is anyone else seeing Raggedy Anne as a mermaid? There's a reason that one was never marketed--it's just creepy.

But as for details: those are madelines you see strategically positioned as seashells, licorice strings for hair and Necco wafers for the fish scales. The pattern takes a bucket load of cake batter--I made a 9 X 13 inch cake for the body and tail and then a second batch in a glass bowl for the face (there was enough left over for cupcakes).

Oh! And another thing about this whole birthday extravaganza--I was putting off shopping for Lillian's present because 1. I really dislike shopping in general and 2. I had no ideas. Add to this the fact that all the grandparents always send me cash to buy their presents for them so I have not just one idea but four ideas to give birth to. I was paralyzed with indecision.

Anyway, I had half an hour to kill in between piano lessons a couple days before her birthday and on a whim I ran to the nearby local toy store Over the Rainbow Toys which just set up shop around the corner (I was avoiding Toys R Us like the plague--I don't like going there). I walked in and there were millions of real toys. Not tiny stripper dolls or walls of video games or merchandising from the latest blockbuster but real toys. It took me all of fifteen minutes to find four great gifts and then (the icing on the cake) when I walked up to the register the friendly and helpful clerk asked that magic question: "Would you like these gift wrapped?"

She must have thought she had the village idiot staring at her because I kind of stood there for a second in a stupor, analyzing all the ways that this must be a scam or a dream, before she quickly said, "It's complimentary!"

So in less than a half an hour I had found terrific toys and had them all gift wrapped and in a big brown bag for my shopping pleasure. And boy was it a pleasure. And they're not even paying me to say that.

***

And speaking of healthy desserts loaded with sugar and more sugar here's a video clip sent in by Alex, a kind reader who put me onto this funny thing. It had me chuckling at "sommelier sauvant" and then had me on the floor with "constantly hugged goats." Go on, watch it . . . I dare you.

Yup, 'fraid so. As the image appeared on my screen top down I was thinking Raggedy Anne, until it got to the mermaid bit! Great cake though, I bet there's none left. Brilliant video ( I especially loved that his child was called Atticus; so's my sister-in-law's little boy - and it fits, if you get my meaning!!)

You did fabulous with the cake! The hair was the second thing I noticed! The first were her, um... boobies! Or are they arms, I was thinking to myself! LOL ... need more coffee in myself! Love the Necco wafers as scales..perfect!

The cake is beautiful, it would be hard for me to cut into and eat it!

My first thought was "Are those madelaines?" and my second thought was "Are they grey?" Very cool cake, I think the Raggedy Ann resemblance is form the hair color and those doe-like eyes :)

Is it just me, or has Toys R Us become the lamest toy store ever? I remember it used to be cool when I was young, and it had rows of bicycles that you could take off the rack and ride around to test out. Last time I was there they had one bike for sale. Just one. And apparently the Bratz vomited pink glitter all over the entire center of the store.

Great post as always. That video cracked me up. The cake was very cool and I didn't see Raggedy Ann until you pointed it out. Thanks for that.

We have an amazing toy store here in Minnesota (they now have an online store as well) called Creative Kidstuff. They do wrapping with bright colors and bags, etc. You go to a kid party anywhere around here and you'll see a LOT of Creative Kidstuff wrapping.

If anyone (including yourself) is looking for some fun ideas for gifts there are a few games that the kids I nanny for LOVE and we have a blast playing all together.

- Askew (http://www.creativekidstuff.com/askew.html) It's a balancing game to see who can get rid of their sticks first. A lot of fun to see what you create when all the pieces are hanging.

- Rush Hour - http://www.creativekidstuff.com/rush-hour.html If you have two games you can compete to see who gets through first. The boys always want to watch me work my way through the "Expert" level which is a lot of fun.

- Blokus http://www.creativekidstuff.com/blokus.html. Another fun creative game that we always have fun with.

The cake is cute and creative! And way more than I would ever do...for our last bday I got the ginormous cupcakes at the Costco bakery. They are big enough to serve 4 people! And tasty. And I ate one all by myself. {sigh.}

The cake looks great! I don't think there's anything better than a homemade birthday cake ( : And the video? The reference to the 'cute little american body' had me in stitches!!! Thanks for the laughs this morning!

Her tail is amazing! Where did you find Necco wafers, they are on the endangered candies list. I'm so inspired now that I may have to attempt more than the 9x13 slab of cake with store bought frosting for my daughter's next bday.

:) First of all, GREAT CAKE!! You go girl! I don't think it looks like creepy Raggedy Ann at all! V cute and hopefully was delicious. Funny bit about the toy store and glad you found some great real toys. I know what you mean about Toys R Us (totally overwhelming). And that video is priceless. Constantly hugged goats - ha ha ha.

Happy birthday Lillian!The cake is beautiful, which is why I will never let my daughter visit your blog ;) I am lucky to remember to order a store bought cake in time. YIKES!Oh my goodness that video was hilarious! My brother has friends that are like that. A wee bit (or way bit) overboard!

I didn't think Raggedy Ann until you said it. I'm still not quite convinced. But I'm thinking the Queen would be quite taken with a mermaid cake come January. It can't take any more cake than that castle did.I would love to find a toy store like that.

Very cool cake! I like over the rainbow too. One day though my daughter got reprimanded for test riding one of the trikes. I thought if they didn't want the kids to try them, they'd have them boxed or tied up. She wasn't making a ruckus and no one was in the store but us. I thought it was odd.